Tapestry  Brick 

and  Tilework 

for  Floors  and 
Interior  Walls 


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Tapestry  Brick 

and  Tile  work 
for  Floors  and 
Interior  Walls 


No.  29 


pISKE  6-  COMPANY  INC 
ACE  BRICKS?  ESTABLISH 

Lire  bricks  i ed  in  1664 


25  Arch  St.,  Boston  Arena  Bldg.,  New  York 

AGENCIES  THROUGHOUT  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  CANADA 


PANELING  IN  GRAND  CENTRAL  STATION 
New  York  City 

Reed  & Stem — Warren  & Wetmore,  Assoc.  Architects 


A simple  and  inexpensive  use  of  “Tapestry”  Brick  and  Tilework  for  wall 
decoration.  These  panels  are  inserts — high  spots  of  color  in  a room  contain- 
ing otherwise  only  monotones.  There  are  thirteen  panels,  all  of  the  same 
design,  but  of  various  sizes  and  shapes,  each  fitting  its  own  particular  location. 


Copyright,  1913 
J.  Parker  B.  Fiske 


f S^tbute 

GENERAL  INTRODUCTION 

RICK  as  a material  for  interior  finish  is  just  beginning  to  assume  a 
position  of  prominence  in  the  building  world. 

The  reason  why  it  is  now  appearing  in  decorative  schemes  as  a rival 
of  wood  paneling,  faience  or  plaster  is  because  at  last  a brick  can 
be  obtained  which  equals  or  even  surpasses  these  materials  in 
beauty  of  texture  and  variety  of  tone. 

Such  is  “Tapestry”  Brick. 

Before  its  advent,  the  colors  obtainable  in  the  brick  world  were  limited  to  a 
comparatively  few,  set  shades,  and  the  surfaces  had  little  or  no  texture.  More- 
over, the  manufacture  of  pressed  bricks  required  a separate  and  expensive  steel 
mould  for  each  shape,  thus  making  a great  variety  of  shapes  impractical.  So  limited 
in  decorative  possibilities  was  the  available  brick  material  that  the  designer  was 
often  forced  to  use  inserts  of  tile,  marble,  limestone  or  other  “foreign”  materials. 

“Tapestry”  Brick  has  done  away  with  all  these  limitations. 

We  have  abandoned  the  absurd  standard  of  mechanical  accuracy  which  required 
every  line  to  be  true  and  every  edge  and  surface  to  be  perfect,  have  abolished 
the  expensive  brick  mould  and  have  substituted  for  it  the  simple  cutting  wire, 
with  which  we  are  now  able  to  cut  the  soft  clay  into  almost  any  desired  shape  and 
size.  Instead  of  a single,  uniform  shade,  we  burn  our  multi-shaped  units  in  soft, 
beautiful  colors  covering  nearly  the  entire  chromatic  range. 

All  this  has  opened  up  a new  world  of  decoration  to  the  artist  in  burned  clay. 

In  order  to  secure  the  best  results  with  the  least  expense,  however,  due  considera- 
tion must  be  given,  not  only  to  the  design,  but  to  ways  and  means  for  manufac- 
turing and  laying  the  material,  and  we  have  often  been  called  upon  by  architects 
for  advice  and  assistance  in  these  matters. 

These  calls  became  so  frequent  that  we  found  it  advisable,  some  two  years  ago, 
to  establish  a Department  of  Brick  Design,  in  which  we  could  bring  together  un- 
der a single  head,  expert  knowledge  along  the  three  lines  mentioned.  This  Depart- 
ment has  rendered  good  service  to  many  of  the  leading  architects  of  the  country. 

Much  difficulty  was  still  encountered,  however,  in  the  execution  of  the  work,  be- 
cause most  bricklayers  are  not  skilled  in  the  handling  of  brick  decoration. 

To  meet  this  condition  and  to  relieve  the  architect  and  his  client  from  the  trou- 
bles heretofore  encountered,  we  have  now  organized  an  Installation  Department. 

With  the  complete  development  of  a new  and  artistic  material — “Tapestry” 
Brick — and  with  a Department  of  Design  for  the  skillful  determination  of  its  use 
and  an  Installation  Department  for  its  erection,  we  are  now  prepared  to  give  the 
architect  and  his  client  complete  service  from  start  to  finish  and  to  guarantee 
that  each  step  shall  be  handled  with  skill,  economy  and  to  their  satisfaction. 

3 


PART  I. 


“TAPESTRY”  BRICK  AND  TILE  WORK  FOR  INTERIOR  WALLS 

A recent  writer  on  interior  decoration  says: 

“There  is  a notion  that  bricks  cannot  be  used  for  interior  walls 
without  a feeling  of  coldness  or  publicity;  quite  the  reverse  is  true. 

In  some  of  the  most  homelike  rooms,  bricks  of  unusual  texture  and 
color  have  been  used,  and  their  soft  rich  colors  have  been  carried 
into  the  woodwork,  hangings  and  floor  coverings,  with  the  most 
charming  results. 

Such  an  interior  will  stand  any  amount  of  light  without  becoming 
garish,  and  is  always  restful  to  the  eye  and  quieting  to  the  nerves. 

We  are  beginning  to  realize  that  color  and  texture  have  a very  posi- 
tive effect  on  mood  and  temper,  and  that  harmony  of  visual  motives 
is  quite  as  essential  as  the  harmony  of  sound.” 

Measured  by  such  a standard,  “Tapestry”  Brick  and  Tilework,  properly  de- 
signed and  installed,  is  a wonderful  material  for  the  finish  of  a loggia,  vestibule,  hall, 
dining  room,  library  or  billiard  room  of  a private  house  and  for  a great  variety  of 
rooms  of  a public  or  semi-public  nature,  such  as  schoolrooms,  lobbies  of  hotels 
and  office  buildings,  rathskellars  and  grill  rooms,  waiting  rooms  in  railway  sta- 
tions, and  many  other  places  too  numerous  to  mention. 

“Tapestry”  Brick  and  Tilework  may  be  of  plain  soft  colors,  in  almost  any  desired 
tone,  or  it  may  sparkle  with  decoration.  It  lends  itself  to  an  almost  infinite  variety 
of  treatment,  and  responds  to  every  aesthetic  impulse  of  the  designer. 

“Tapestry”  Brick  and  Tilework  is,  moreover,  an  economical  and  absolutely 
permanent  material,  never  requiring  paint,  varnish,  redressing  or  repairs. 

In  the  frontispiece  and  on  the  following  pages  are  shown  three  examples  of  this 
material  as  an  interior  wall  finish.  In  each  case  the  designs  and  complete 
working  drawings  were  made  by  us.  In  one  case  we  contracted  for  the  in- 
stallation of  the  material,  while  in  another  we  supervised  its  erection. 

As  to  the  cost  of  “Tapestry”  Brick  and  Tilework,  we  can  give  no  exact  figures 
until  the  character,  extent  and  location  of  the  work  is  studied.  In  a general  way, 
however,  it  compares  favorably  with  the  cost  of  high  grade  wood  paneling  or 
marble.  With  each  of  the  following  examples  we  have  given  an  approxi- 
mate idea  of  the  cost  of  that  particular  design  under  average  conditions.  These 
figures  include  preliminary  sketches,  water  colors,  working  drawings,  and  the  manu- 
facture and  delivery  of  the  material.  A separate  figure  is  also  included  for  installation. 

We  now  solicit  an  opportunity  to  furnish,  without  charge,  special  designs,  color 
schemes  and  estimates  for  any  work  which  the  architect  may  have  in  hand. 


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TAP  ROOM,  HOTEL  BELVEDERE 
Baltimore,  Maryland 
Parker,  Thomas  & Rice,  Architects 


This  room  is  about  50  feet  long  by  30  feet  wide,  and  is  finished  from  floor 
to  ceiling  in  “Tapestry”  Brick  and  Tilework.  The  ceiling  is  latticed  between 
heavy  beams.  The  room  has  a tile  floor,  and  is  furnished  in  brown  Flemish  oak. 

The  walls  are  wainscoted  9 feet  high  with  standard  sized  “ Tapestry  ” Brick 
in  full  range  of  color,  varying  from  a rich  red  to  a deep  blue,  with  intermediate 
shades  of  light  and  dark  brown,  purple  and  bronze.  The  brick  is  laid  in  Dutch 
bond,  with  a ^2  inch  cream  white  mortar  joint,  rough-cut-flush. 

The  window  and  door  openings  are  outlined  with  plain  or  decorated  bands; 
at  the  top  of  the  wainscot  is  a dark  band  made  up  of  two  rows  of  plain  brick 
separated  by  a row  of  Pony  brick,  1 inch  in  thickness,  to  accentuate  the  joint. 

Above  is  a wealth  of  rich  panelwork  in  various  sizes  and  patterns,  some 
suggestive  of  a rug,  others  of  the  stained  glass  window,  yet  all  in  perfect  harmony. 

The  work  is  crowned  with  an  interesting  frieze  about  3^2  feet  wide. 

The  cost  per  square  foot  of  work  of  this  general  character  is  about  $1.50  for 
the  designs,  drawings  and  material,  and  about  $1.50  for  installation. 


5 


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ENTRANCE  LOBBY,  OTIS  ELEVATOR  BUILDING 
New  York  City 
Clinton  & Russell,  Architects 


Wholly  different  from  the  work  on  the  preceding  page  is  that  shown  in  this  pic- 
ture. This  is  the  lobby  of  a commercial  building. 

The  architect  and  owners,  desiring  something  unusual  and  at  the  same  time  ap- 
propriate, adopted  for  these  interior  surfaces  the  same  general  material  as  used  on 
the  exterior  of  the  building. 


The  effect  is  unusually  pleasant.  All  four  walls  and  the  floor  are  finished  in  the 
same  soft,  mellow  tones.  The  dado  and  the  door  trims  are  of  dark,  rich  brownish 
shades,  while  each  of  the  walls  is  paneled  by  a border,  figured  in  soft,  reddish- and 
blue  tones. 


How  much  more  inviting  and  friendly  than  the  cold,  uninteresting  marble  and 
plaster  of  the  ordinary  city  building! 

The  cost  per  square  foot  of  work  of  this  general  character  is  about  75  cents  for  the 
designs,  drawings  and  material,  and  about  75  cents  for  installation. 


6 


PART  II. 


f‘ TAPESTRY”  BRICK  AND  TILE  WORK  FOR  FLOORS 

The  brick  and  tile  floor  is  coming  more  and  more  into  general  use.  Burned 
clay  is  proving  itself  superior  to  all  other  materials.  It  is  not  only  capable  of 
most  varied  and  artistic  treatment,  but  it  is  absolutely  durable  and  sanitary. 

“Tapestry"  Brick  and  Tile  are  particularly  suitable  for  this  kind  of  work. 
They  have  the  soft  and  rich  effect  of  the  Turkish  rug  combined  with  all  the  prac- 
tical advantages  of  ordinary  clay  prpducts. 

Where  the  ordinary  size  of.  “Tapestry”  Brick  does  not  lend  itself  properly  to 
the  scale  of  the  surroundings,  the  designer  has  the  choice  of  the  Real  Roman 
“Tapestry”  Brick,  18  inches  by  2 inches  by  6 inches;  also  of  the  Pony  “Tapestry” 
Brick,  6 inches  by  1 inch  by  2J^  inches;  the  Norman  “Tapestry”  Brick,  12  inches 
long  and  also  of  “Tapestry”  Tile,  either  6 inches  or  8 inches  square.  Each  of 
these  units  (except  the  Real  Roman  Brick  and  the  8 inch  tile)  is  made  in  three 
distinct  groups  of  color — red,  gray  and  golden-buff — each  group  containing  a 
wide  variety  of  shade. 

By  combining  “Tapestry”  Brick  of  various  sizes  with  “Tapestry”  Tile,  an 
endless  variety  of  decorative  floor  patterns  can  be  worked  out,  each  suitable  in 
color  and  design  for  its  own  particular  place. 

“Tapestry”  Brick  and  Tile  never  fade  in  color,  and,  when  laid  according  to 
our  directions,  are  never  disintegrated  by  frost;  we  are  prepared  to  give  any  reason- 
able guarantee  in  respect  to  these  matters. 

Wherever  a few  pails  of  water,  or  still  better  a garden  hose,  can  be  used,  as 
in  the  case  of  all  out-of-doors  work,  a “Tapestry”  Brick  and  Tile  Floor  can  be 
quickly  and  thoroughly  cleansed  and  all  its  beautiful  colors  brought  out  in  their 
original  freshness. 

For  interior  use,  where  water  cannot  be  freely  used  for  cleansing  purposes,  we 
manufacture  a Repressed  Floor  Tile,  much  smoother  than  the  “Tapestry”  prod- 
ucts, but  without  the  disagreeable  shiny  surface  of  the  ordinary  quarry  tile.  Thus 
we  combine  good  sanitation  with  a higher  art, 

W e not  only  offer  the  materials  above  described,  but  we  are  prepared  to  submit 
designs  and  to  contract  for  the  laying  of  both  plain  and  decorative  floors. 

Some  idea  of  the  cost  of  material  and  the  labor  of  laying  these  floors  is  given  in 
connection  with  the  following  illustrations. 

Correspondence  is  respectfully  solicited. 


7 


THE  RED  ROOM 
New  York  Offices  of  Fiske  & Co.,  Inc. 


This  picture  illustrates  our  Red  Repressed  Floor  Tile  for  interior  use  only  ; as 
an  example  of  wall  decoration  it  is  also  full  of  interest  and  suggestion. 

This  tile  is  6 inches  square  and  1 inch  in  thickness.  It  varies  in  color  from  a 
medium  red  to  a deep  purple;  many  have  dark  edges  gradually  toning  to  red  in 
the  centre.  The  surfaces  are  purposely  made  slightly  rough  and  irregular  to 
obviate  the  paint-and-varnish  effect  of  the  ordinary  quarry  tile;  at  the  same  time 
they  are  impervious  to  water  and  are  therefore  perfectly  sanitary. 

This  tile  is  manufactured  also  in  gray  and  golden-buff,  each  with  a considerable 
variation  of  shade. 

Tile,  scored  for  y2  diagonal,  % diagonal  and  y2  rectangle  (approximately  6 inches 
by  3 inches)  can  also  be  obtained. 

The  cost  per  square  foot  of  plain  Repressed  Floor  Tile,  without  any  designing  or 
drawings,  is  30  cents  in  carload  lots,  loose  in  car  and  40  cents  in  less  than  carload 
lots,  in  packages,  all  f.  o.  b.  our  factories  in  Western  Pennsylvania. 

The  cost  of  laying  a plain  floor  is  30  cents  per  square  foot  and  upwards,  de- 
pending upon  conditions. 


8 


RAMPS  IN  GRAND  CENTRAL  STATION 
New  York  City 

Reed  & Stem — Warren  & Wetmore,  Assoc.  Architects 


This  work  is  of  “ Tapestry  ” Tile  6 inches  square,  1 inch  in  thickness,  laid  with  a 
Yt  inch  gray  mortar  joint,  rough-cut-flush.  The  colors  are  similar  to  those 
described  on  the  opposite  page. 

These  ramps  have  an  average  traffic  of  about  150,000  people  per  day.  They  lead 
from  the  street  to  the  lower  track  level  and  are  inclined  at  an  angle  of  10  degrees. 
It  is  therefore  necessary  that  they  should  be  absolutely  non-slipping  and  of  extra- 
ordinary wearing  qualities. 

“Tapestry”  Tile  fulfills  these  requirements  perfectly,  and  at  the  same  time  pre- 
sents a soft,  beautiful  appearance.  No  other  material  has  this  unique  combina- 
tion of  utilitarian  and  artistic  qualities. 

For  the  walks  about  a private  house,  also,  and  for  porch  or  pergola  floors,  or 
wherever  a beautiful  and  permanent  pavement  is  desired,  “ Tapestry  ” Tile  is  the 
ideal  material. 

Where  a red  tile  of  larger  scale  or  greater  thickness  is  desired,  the  8 inch  by  8 
inch  by  2 inch  size  is  available  at  the  same  cost  per  square  foot. 

The  cost  of  “Tapestry”  Tile  in  either  size  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  Repressed 
Tile  described  on  the  opposite  page. 


9 


This  is  one  of  many  equally  pleasing  designs  which  can  be  made  with  “Tapestry” 
Brick  and  Tile.  The  centre  is  of  6 inch  tile,  either  “Tapestry”  or  Repressed,  as  the 
conditions  may  dictate,  and  the  border  is  a combination  of  plain  “Tapestry” 
Brick  in  suitable  colors  with  cut  work  at  the  intersections.  The  mortar  joint 
should  be  at  least  H inch  in  thickness  and  of  lighter  or  darker  color. 

A golden-buff  floor  like  that  illustrated  above  is  pleasing  in  a room  with  Flemish 
oak,  fumed  chestnut  or  mahogany  finish,  the  general  color  tones  harmonizing  with 
the  woodwork  while  the  decorative  border  can  be  made  to  match  it. 

The  red  group  of  colors  or  the  gray  group  can  be  used  if  more  suitable. 

If  the  scale  of  the  work  requires  a larger  tile,  the  8 inch  by  8 inch  by  2 inch  size 
may  be  used;  this  tile  is  made  only  in  the  red  colors,  however,  and  with  a rough 
surface;  it  is  therefore  suitable  only  for  exterior  use. 

The  designs,  drawings  and  material  for  a somewhat  plain  design,  like  that  shown 
above,  cost  from  50  cents  to  75  cents  per  square  foot,  and  the  laying  from  30  cents 
to  50  cents,  depending  upon  the  size  of  the  floor  and  other  conditions. 


10 


DECORATIVE  DESIGN  FOR  FLOOR 

This  design  is  of  standard  size  “Tapestry”  Brick  with  blue  pieces  1 inch  square 
at  the  intersections.  The  field  is  of  brick  specially  roughened  and  burned  on  the 
flat  side  to  give  good  texture  and  a pleasing  variation  of  color;  the  border  is  a 
combination  of  these  “flat-sets”  and  ordinary  “Tapestry”  Brick. 

A similar  design  can  be  furnished  in  gray  or  golden-buff  shades,  or  the  border 
may  be  of  one  group  of  colors  while  the  field  is  of  another. 

Where  units  of  a larger  or  smaller  scale  are  desired,  the  Real  Roman  “Tap- 
estry” Tile,  measuring  18  inches  by  6 inches,  or  the  Pony  “Tapestry”  Tile, 
measuring  6 inches  by  2^  inches,  can  be  used,  and  the  border  design  can  be 
changed  to  correspond. 

The  designs,  drawings  and  material  for  a floor  of  this  character  cost  from 
75  cents  to  $1.00  per  square  foot,  and  the  laying  from  50  cents  to  75  cents,  depend- 
ing upon  the  size  of  the  floor  and  other  conditions. 

These  designs  are  offered  as  suggestions  only — as  illustrations  of  what  we  can 
work  out  after  we  have  learned  all  the  conditions  governing  the  case. 


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